Weblinks from email won't open

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How can I change the default browser on the iPhone so that when tapping a link in an email, it opens up the website using Mobicip? With Safari disabled, this function doesn't work. I'm guessing it's an easy fix, I just can't find the instructions anywhere. Thanks!

Apple's iPhone SDK doesn't allow third-party apps to be launched from other apps. Actually, their documentation suggests a method to make this work, and we have implemented it already. But due to a bug or some other unknown reason, this documented feature is not working. Other app developers have been complaining about this as well, and we expect Apple to start supporting this in their next major OS update.

The only workaround we can suggest at this time is to press down on the link in the email, select copy, then switch to the Mobicip browser and tap the URL bar to paste the link. It is definitely not smooth, but many users live with it for lack of a better option. In iOS4, this process is made much simpler as you can double tap the home button to switch between the email and Mobicip.

We are hoping this bug will be fixed in a future version of iOS. Until then, the workaround mentioned above is what we can suggest.

Please let us know if this answers your questions. Otherwise we will be happy to assist further.

We do see that you have contacted our email support regarding the same concern. We copy/paste our reply here so that it will be helpful for other users.

'Please note that Apple's iPhone SDK doesn't allow third-party apps to be launched from other apps. Actually, their documentation suggests a method to make this work, and we have implemented it already. But due to a bug or some other unknown reason, this documented feature is not working. Other app developers have been complaining about this as well, and we expect Apple to start supporting this in their next major OS update.

If Safari is disabled, links in emails or any other app will not work just the same. The problem is that when you disable Safari Mobile, iOS simply hides the Safari icon and does not delete Safari. So even though Mobicip has registered itself as a web browser application to iOS, Safari takes precedence and the request to open the link doesn't even come to Mobicip. Similarly, weblinks saved to the home screen of the device will not work either. We have mentioned this issue to Apple and requested support, but we haven't met with any response so far.

We understand that this is quite frustrating from a user experience standpoint, but unfortunately our hands are tied by the limitations imposed by iOS. The workaround we can suggest is to press down on the link in the email, select copy, tab the URL bar in the Mobicip browser, and select paste. It is a crude workaround, but it has been made somewhat easier with iOS4 where you can switch to Mobicip (assuming it is running in the background, that is) and paste the URL instantly.'

Please note that the change has to be done at Apple's end and not us. Apple's iPhone SDK doesn't allow third-party apps to be launched from other apps. Other app developers have been complaining about this as well, and we expect Apple to start supporting this in their next major OS update.

You should certainly contact Apple and provide your feedback on this page.